LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ANA ALDRIDGE Co-Editor-in-Chief
T
he ODYSSEY Media Group is a student-produced news source for Clarke Central High School that I have had the pleasure of being a part of for three years now. Next school year, I will serve as Co-Editorin-Chief alongside my friend and teammate Katie Grace Upchurch. I will also serve as a Writing Coach for our Journalism 1 class. We are looking forward to continuing the legacy this program has built since its founding in 2003, and hope to take our publications to new heights. Working for the ODYSSEY is a tremendous opportunity for mentorship and personal growth, where students will be pushed outside their comfort zones and expected to maintain a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility to their fellow staffers and the CCHS and Athens community. This school year, we transitioned to a
convergence-model production class, where student journalists produce cross-platform content for our magazine, social media platforms and website, including broadcast features. Though the transition has been a long process, we have found that the convergence model helps us excel at producing engaging content and teaches student journalists a variety of outlets to tell stories. Our media group will continue to engage in this emerging trend in journalism next school year. We also began our J1 class this past school year, which is an introductory class for firstyear ODYSSEY students in which they learn the basics of journalism: including interviewing, writing, multimedia, marketing and technical skills. It was a great success in Year One and four other seniors and I will be facilitating the J1 class with Mr. Ragsdale in Year Two. Students from both classes, production and J1, will be invited to attend state and regional conferences, where they can attend a variety
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“Working for the ODYSSEY is a tremendous opportunity for mentorship and personal growth, where students will be pushed outside their comfort zones and expected to maintain a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility to their fellow staffers and community.”
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of sessions, network with other journalists, participate in on-site competitions and bond with their teammates. I’m so excited to work with and get to know all of our journalism students next school year. I want us all to keep in mind that the more we all put into ODYSSEY, the more we will get out of it. Get ready for a great year!
FROM THE STAFF VALERIA GARCIA-POZO Senior Copy Editor
EVERETT VEREEN Designer
For me, ODYSSEY is a family that I get to have inside of school. It’s a group of the most brilliant, hardworking, talented people I know, all working together to make the same product, and it’s filled with people I admire and respect. It’s an environment that’s helped me grow so much as a person. I started out when I was a freshman who thought she knew everything, and over the years, I’ve learned a lot of humility, a completely different style of writing, how to be a good editor and leader, and what qualities it takes to succeed in the real world.
I joined ODYSSEY because I liked the people, but stayed because of the relationships I built. ODYSSEY is like a family where everyone supports each other. It’s a place where you have the opportunity to explore and learn about any corner of the journalistic world you want to. Since I’ve joined ODYSSEY, I’ve become a much more efficient writer. I’ve taught myself and found a passion in design. I’ve learned a lot about interacting and working with others, time management, and other skills that will propel me to success later in life. I’ve met some of my best friends.
Bria Echols Morale Chair
KELLY FULFORD Senior Visuals Coordinator
ODYSSEY has always been an outlet where I feel comfortable and I can connect with people. The family atmosphere is wonderful. I always wanted to be a part a program like this. I have gotten so many opportunities from this program and I have met a lot of really amazing people as well. I have learned many new skills: from presenting to leadership. I wouldn’t have learned those skills anywhere else. ODYSSEY has given me memories, a school family and experiences that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.
I joined ODYSSEY my freshman year because of my love for writing. I had no idea how much I would learn about myself when I embarked on this journey. Without ODYSSEY, I wouldn’t have discovered my love for videography or photography. More importantly, I wouldn’t have learned the importance of self-discipline and commitment. When I leave high school, I will have a diverse, extensive skill set unlike the rest of my classmates, and for that I am grateful. ODYSSEY has grown me into the young adult I am today, shown me a world of passions I will have for the rest of my life and given me a home at CCHS.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANA ALDRIDGE Co-Editor-in-Chief Is ODYSSEY a club or a class?
How much does each trip cost?
There are two journalism periods at Clarke Central High School. Firstyear students will be in the introductory journalism class, J1, and veterans will be in the production class. Both classes give students the opportunity to be published on the media group’s social media platforms, in the magazine, iliad, ODTV or on the website. In order for this to be possible, all journalism students are encouraged to attend after-school workdays on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30. This will give veterans and newcomers time to bond and to receive feedback on assignments.
Prices vary for GSPA conferences, but they are usually $20 for each student. SIPA is usually around $300. Students will be able to apply for partial or full scholarships before each trip.
What materials are needed for class? Students will need their school-provided netbook, a recording device (phone, iPod, recorder, etc.), pens, a binder and paper daily. We will provide a staff manual/stylebook and press pass for each student at the beginning of the year. If the student loses either of these, they will be charged for a new one ($10 for staff manual/stylebooks and $8 for press passes and lanyards). Students will be provided access to cameras on a case-by-case basis.
What trips do students take? Journalism students will have the opportunity to go to several conferences during the year. The Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA) holds a fall and spring conference, both of which are just for a day. The Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) holds a conference in the spring. Students will travel to Columbia, SC for this three-day conference. All of these conferences allow students to grow by offering classes taught by distinguished advisers and program leaders. At GSPA and SIPA, students are able to compete in on-site competitions, such as review writing, and Quiz Bowl, photography and more.
For a first-year student, how much of a time committment is Journalism? Each staffer will be given time in class to complete assignments. Deadlines for major assignments will be given well in advance and students will be provided with a helpful calendar. Students are expected to attend after-school workdays on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Weekend workdays are posted in advance and food will be provided.
What are some typical assignments for J1 students? First-year students will be assigned a variety of tasks to learn about different styles of journalistic writing, multimedia, videography, photography, marketing and design. For example, students will have opportunities to craft blogs, mini-profiles and engage in photo explorations.
Who should my J1 student talk to if they have a question? Communication is key in ODYSSEY. If a parent or student has a concern, they should consult Mr. Ragsdale. However, for day-to-day questions and help, they should talk to student facilitators.
FUN!RAISERS EMMA CRANE Business Manager Annually, members of the ODYSSEY Media Group staff ’s families have a variety of opportunities to raise money for the program. The largest source of income for our program is students and parents working Aramark concession stands at University of Georgia football games. There are six home games in the fall and one spring scrimmage game. Every production class staffer is expected to work at least five out of seven of the games. At the end of the season, there will be an in-class raffle for a prize. Every game worked earns one ticket, and one more chance to win the prize. If you aren’t able to work a game, you are encouraged to find a friend or family member to work in your place. These games are very important, as they help raise around $10,000 for ODYSSEY. This revenue is put towards new equipment, field trip and camp scholarships, production of the magazine and the upkeep of the website. In addition to the football games, the ODYSSEY/ iliad Booster Club hosts the “Not So Silent Night” auction in December. Parents will be recruited to help acquire auction items from local artists and businesses. Fundraisers are a vital part of our program -- without the proper funding, ODYSSEY would not be able to thrive.
WORKSHOP VALERIA GARCIA-POZO Senior Copy Editor Every year, the summer journalism workshop gives incoming production staffers a chance to join returning staffers and the editorial board in a crash course to the inner workings, expectations and demands of the ODYSSEY. The workshop will be held from July 17-20 from 8-4 each day. Staffers will have the opportunity to learn skills essential to their success in the program the upcoming school year, and they will be provided with journalistic opportunities to experiment hands-on with what they learn. Our veteran (incoming and returning production) staff is expected to attend for all four days and our incoming J1 students will attend a luncheon with the staff on July 20 at 12 p.m. in Room 231. As we are a student-led publication, production staffers will review each section of the website and magazine via presentations from the same editors who will be guiding them throughout the school year. It’s an awesome staff bonding experience, as well as an educational one. This is why it’s so important that we have everyone in attendance. If you aren’t able to attend, email Mr. Ragsdale. Otherwise, we will see you there!